Child rights body summons 3 doctors for denying treatment

Ludhiana: The Punjab State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (PSCPCR) has summoned civil surgeon Hardeep Singh Ghai, senior medical officer Dr Kulwinder Singh, and Indian Medical Association (IMA) president Dr Avinash Jindal for denying treatment to emergency patients.

PSCPCR chairman Sukesh Kalia, talking to TOI over the phone, said: “Two patients in Emergency were denied treatment as per reports in various newspapers. Summons have been sent to three doctors, using the suo moto power (U/S13(1)(J) of the PSCPCR Act.

The two cases for which summons were sent are that of a pregnant woman and a 10-year-old girl. The pregnant woman was not operated by doctors, despite her baby’s death in the womb for 12 hours. And the 10-year-old girl who went to Dr Jindal had got a coin stuck in her throat, for which she was denied treatment, as revealed by her mother Gurjit Kaur.

Dr Singh said: “Though I haven’t received information about the summons, no emergency cases were denied treatment. The pregnant woman was operated on the day of the strike itself, and some of her tests were pending, after which she was operated.” Dr Jindal said: “I am not aware about the notice,” while Dr Ghai did not respond to calls.